For the Clear Fork Lady Colts, it was seniors Kaylin Helinski and Kaylee Krausman who stepped up in a 2-1 Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference soccer championship, clinching victory over Ontario on Wednesday.

Helinski scored the game-winning goal while Krausman recorded 14 saves, including three within the last two minutes of the match, to preserve the win. With the victory, the Lady Colts clinch at least a share of the MOAC title with one to play.

Clear Fork head coach Brittany Bechtel knew Krausman and Helinski would step up and make big plays right when her team needed them the most as they have since they were freshmen.

"Those are the two at the top of our MVP list for our team," Bechtel said. "Both are seniors and they will both be greatly missed next season. One keeps the ball out of our net and the other puts the ball in the other net. I cannot say enough about those two and they have been instrumental in building, molding and taking this program to the next level for the last four years."

The Lady Colts came out fast, scoring off of a corner kick as MacKenzie Thorne sent the kick to the perfect spot for Torri Curry to knock in the game's first goal with 26:21 left in the first half. Then, the Lady Colts dropped back into defensive mode.

"The first half I thought we did a great job controlling the possession and once we got that first goal, we bunkered in our defensive side," Bechtel said. "We played a more defensive game. It was a bit ugly in the end, but we came out with the W and that is all that matters."

Ontario answered with 4:18 remaining in the first half after Bria Meisse sent a cross kick through the box finding Alaina Reed for the header goal to knot things up heading into halftime.

With the game deadlocked at one score apiece, Helinski took it upon herself to get her team back on top. After a through-ball was sent down the left side, Helinski met a defender, juked and came free drilling in the go-ahead and game-winning goal with 29:07 left in the contest.

"When it comes down to those moments, you have to give it your all," Helinski said. "I knew those opportunities against good teams like this do not come often so you have to capitalize."

Helinski is no stranger to big goals this season as she knocked in her 19th goal of the season to give her team the MOAC championship. She had a four-goal game earlier in the season, but admits nothing compares to Wednesday's game-winner.

"Four goals is nothing compared to one goal against a good team like this," Helinski said. "It has been since my freshman year since we beat Ontario, so this one feels good."

The Lady Warriors didn't go quietly, however, making a strong attack in the last couple of minutes. After an Ontario player got loose, Clear Fork's Emily Hart may have made the defensive play of the game with a perfect slide tackle to end the threat. As the clock continued to tick, the Lady Warriors had a corner kick with 20 seconds remaining. It was knocked away, preserving the victory. In those last two minutes, Krausman recorded three saves.

"It was very intense after we lost possession of the ball and Ontario started possessing and our defense got a little crazy," Krausman said. "We were running with our heads cut off and it got messy, but we fought through, made plays and came out with the win.

"It is weird, but I blur everyone else out and focus on tracking the ball. It can get crazy some times."

The Lady Colts pick up their second consecutive MOAC title and have a chance to clinch it outright next Wednesday in a home game against Pleasant. But, the Lady Colts can already call themselves champions.

"It feels pretty good," Krausman said. "Ontario has beat us the last three years and it feels good to finally beat them."

"It feels really good especially after coming back from a lot of adversity from last year," Helinski said. "We put a ton of work in during the summer and it is paying off."

The Lady Colts will then turn their sights on the tournament and trying to get through one of the toughest district tournaments in the state.

"We can play with anyone in the district and it is one of the most challenging districts in the state," Bechtel said. "Our sectional and district draw has so much talent. Madison, Lexington, Clear Fork and Ontario are all having some of the best teams in program history right now."

The Lady Colts improved to 8-2-2 and 5-0 in the MOAC while Ontario fell to 6-5-1 and 4-1 in the conference.